I'm just beginning to scratch the surface of the Anime genre, and thus far I'm beginning to find that I don't enjoy most of the "popular" shows.

I do not find satisfaction in this. I think it is because of what I seek in anime and that I prefer substance over action or eccentricity. I enjoy a more toned down art style that portrays realism, however I am not opposed to the flamboyant nature of the occasional graphic battle. I like anime that emulates physical setbacks and moral issues overlooked or exploited in the real world.

So bippity boppity boop, it got me wondering why I decided to tune into anime in the first place and why I continue to watch it... I decided it was little more than relishing in another artistic avenue battling relentlessly for a chance to convey the otherwise unexpressed ideals of a creative mind, but it was a hell of lot of more fun than walking through an art museum or spending countless hours dedicated to mind-numbing documentaries. There's a lot wrong with society and I think we all get stung by the bug that makes us want to scream until it buzzes back to the awful hive from whence it spawned so that we can go on forgetting about those problems for another month. Anime does a pretty good job of holding up a middle finger sometimes and also offering up suggestion to how we should act towards one another, even in the most dire of situations. It makes the mundane chores of the day to day actually look mundane in comparison.

Am I missing something about these more popular series? Or are they to be taken at face value?

Also, why are you still watching?

just don't pay attention to what's "popular" or not, that's what I do. I just like anime for what it is. there are some incredibly popular anime that I enjoy, like Spice & Wolf, not because of it's popularity but because it's genuinely interesting and has heart. then there's popular anime, like the big 3 or attack on titan, that make me wonder why they became popular in the first place.

then there's anime that feels almost like it's being ignored, like Eden of the East and C Control, that I wonder why they aren't more popular because of how good they were.

everyone has their own tastes, though, and everyone is welcome to have their own tastes. just watch what you like, don't watch what you don't like, and all will be right in the world.

So, ignoring popularity and you obviously being more of a veteran than I when it comes to anime... What is your criteria for finding new anime? It's hard to keep starting/stopping new series all the time. Not enough time to waste in the day

You might like Non Non Biyori, Space Brothers, Love Chunibiyo and Other Delusions, and Log Horizon, all shows here on Crunchy Roll, and each surprisingly popular (in a good way). Each show also is from a different sub-genre: moe, slice of life, rom-com, economics 101, respectively.

Of course, Arakawa Under the Bridge might be something you'd really like...it's a bit more of a comedy of the absurd, though that belies the drama of the series, which is the struggle of the MC to adopt or not the worldview of the characters he meets, and in what ways their worldview is challenged by the main character.

Thanks, dude! That was really insightful. Still trying to decipher all of these sub-genres, but I'm open to everything as long as it's well-written

I'm just beginning to scratch the surface of the Anime genre, and thus far I'm beginning to find that I don't enjoy most of the "popular" shows.

I do not find satisfaction in this. I think it is because of what I seek in anime and that I prefer substance over action or eccentricity. I enjoy a more toned down art style that portrays realism, however I am not opposed to the flamboyant nature of the occasional graphic battle. I like anime that emulates physical setbacks and moral issues overlooked or exploited in the real world.

So bippity boppity boop, it got me wondering why I decided to tune into anime in the first place and why I continue to watch it... I decided it was little more than relishing in another artistic avenue battling relentlessly for a chance to convey the otherwise unexpressed ideals of a creative mind, but it was a hell of lot of more fun than walking through an art museum or spending countless hours dedicated to mind-numbing documentaries. There's a lot wrong with society and I think we all get stung by the bug that makes us want to scream until it buzzes back to the awful hive from whence it spawned so that we can go on forgetting about those problems for another month. Anime does a pretty good job of holding up a middle finger sometimes and also offering up suggestion to how we should act towards one another, even in the most dire of situations. It makes the mundane chores of the day to day actually look mundane in comparison.

Am I missing something about these more popular series? Or are they to be taken at face value?

Also, why are you still watching?

It's hard to say whether or not you're missing something about more popular anime. One person could look at Naruto and see a bunch of idiots being overdramatic and doing random things for no good reason, while a different person could look at it and see a group of very deep characters giving 110% to unite the world against the many problems it faces; it just depends on who you ask.
I'd say it's only worth trying to like more popular series if you really want to be on the same page as the people who love those series to death. If you don't care about that, then I'd recommend just watching what you like or what you think you will like; that's what I do, anyway.

I still watch anime because I still find new anime that appeal to my (apparently strange) tastes. Each new season brings a bunch of anime that look like they'll appeal to me and a bunch that look like they won't; I just watch the former and ignore the latter. I don't really care if the latter end up being really popular.

I'm quickly discovering how anime can induce that woah-did-I-just-enjoy-that-wtf-is-wrong-with-me effect

You said toned-down art style with realism, so i would suggest Gankutsuou and Red Garden, both from Gonzo, since they aren't your typical anime style. I think they are both extremely good anime, but i adore Red Garden. It deals with an extremely life-changing situation with the main characters, while also showing how their personal lives are. Makes Madoka Magica look like a joke. I think it's something you might like and it isn't popular...at all.

I'm just beginning to scratch the surface of the Anime genre, and thus far I'm beginning to find that I don't enjoy most of the "popular" shows.

I do not find satisfaction in this. I think it is because of what I seek in anime and that I prefer substance over action or eccentricity. I enjoy a more toned down art style that portrays realism, however I am not opposed to the flamboyant nature of the occasional graphic battle. I like anime that emulates physical setbacks and moral issues overlooked or exploited in the real world.

So bippity boppity boop, it got me wondering why I decided to tune into anime in the first place and why I continue to watch it... I decided it was little more than relishing in another artistic avenue battling relentlessly for a chance to convey the otherwise unexpressed ideals of a creative mind, but it was a hell of lot of more fun than walking through an art museum or spending countless hours dedicated to mind-numbing documentaries. There's a lot wrong with society and I think we all get stung by the bug that makes us want to scream until it buzzes back to the awful hive from whence it spawned so that we can go on forgetting about those problems for another month. Anime does a pretty good job of holding up a middle finger sometimes and also offering up suggestion to how we should act towards one another, even in the most dire of situations. It makes the mundane chores of the day to day actually look mundane in comparison.

Am I missing something about these more popular series? Or are they to be taken at face value?

Also, why are you still watching?

just don't pay attention to what's "popular" or not, that's what I do. I just like anime for what it is. there are some incredibly popular anime that I enjoy, like Spice & Wolf, not because of it's popularity but because it's genuinely interesting and has heart. then there's popular anime, like the big 3 or attack on titan, that make me wonder why they became popular in the first place.

then there's anime that feels almost like it's being ignored, like Eden of the East and C Control, that I wonder why they aren't more popular because of how good they were.

everyone has their own tastes, though, and everyone is welcome to have their own tastes. just watch what you like, don't watch what you don't like, and all will be right in the world.

So, ignoring popularity and you obviously being more of a veteran than I when it comes to anime... What is your criteria for finding new anime? It's hard to keep starting/stopping new series all the time. Not enough time to waste in the day

I usually just read synopsis, or some spoiler-free reviews and give series a few episodes. if I'm not impressed, I move on. it's also a good idea to just ask for suggestions. I probably wouldn't have paid attention to Kyousougiga, unless it wasn't so highly recommended, and I wound up adding it to my top 5 anime of all time.

I'm curious what you have and haven't seen, and what you have and haven't liked. "Popular" is kind of vague.

There's the Naruto kind of popular, the Sword Art Online kind of popular, and the Death Note kind of popular, etc.

I have seen a lot of Naruto, SAO, and Death Note.

Naruto is definitely not my cup of tea, SAO was actually enjoyable despite the weak plot, and Death Note was more on the mindless side, but it did have some fun moments. Black Butler was pretty good (the first season) and the one where they turn into animals of the zodiac when you hug them... Heh, can't recall the name- OH, Fruits Basket. Yeah, that was pretty good.

I just started Fate/Zero and it looks promising. Oh yeah, I did enjoy FLCL. I guess by popular I'm thinking of the titles even non-anime watchers may have heard of: DBZ, Full-Metal, Naruto...

You said toned-down art style with realism, so i would suggest Gankutsuou and Red Garden, both from Gonzo, since they aren't your typical anime style. I think they are both extremely good anime, but i adore Red Garden. It deals with an extremely life-changing situation with the main characters, while also showing how their personal lives are. Makes Madoka Magica look like a joke. I think it's something you might like and it isn't popular...at all.

Casshern Sins is possibly the best anime in my observable universe from the vantage point I am currently occupying.

I wouldn't go so far as to say other people should agree with me since personal preference is involved, and I don't want to oversell it to anyone either since its seduction was so beautifully subtle, but it wrecked all other anime for me for days.

I'm having a hard time finding good screenshots, but:

▼ The aesthetic... By God, it's one of the most dark yet beautiful things I've ever seen.

Also, Kino's Journey sounds like a fairy obvious suggestion to make at this point in the thread.

Casshern Sins is possibly the best anime in my observable universe from the vantage point I am currently occupying.

I wouldn't go so far as to say other people should agree with me since personal preferences are involved, and I don't want to oversell it to anyone either since its seduction was so beautifully subtle, but it wrecked all over anime for me for days.

I'm having a hard time finding good screenshots, but:

▼ The aesthetic... By God, it's one of the most dark yet beautiful things I've ever seen.

Also, Kino's Journey sounds like a fairy obvious suggestion to make at this point in the thread.

Well, you got one right here. It's one of the best!
One of the best by Tatsunoko.
One of the best by Madhouse.

It's one I'll be recommending to people a lot and I like to have a good screenshot to give a feel for the visual aesthetic. I have the Blu-Rays but I don't have the drive or software for them on my PC, so I can't get any screenshots that way.

And taking screenshots on Hulu is a bit of a pain.

I just wish there was a gif of Lizbell letting her hair down, that was a femme fatale moment ranked up to 11.